Christmas is my favourite holiday. As an expat in France, it’s the only time of the year where I’m guaranteed to go ‘home’ to Toronto and spend part of the holidays with my family.

Before I head to the Great White North* a trip downtown to Place Masséna is warranted. After all, ever since D and I moved to Nice we haven’t had Christmas chez nous: no Christmas lights, no tree in the living room. Yes, I’m in need of sparkly Christmas lights.

But no trip to a Christmas market is any fun if you don’t sample the goodies on sale. Our first stop was for a Nutella waffle. Then, it was time for a little cheese — yes, dessert to start a meal. We sampled cheese from Haute Savoie and Franche-Comté plus saucisson and ham from Corsica.

With our tummies full of yummy treats we headed back home to start packing. We head to Coustellet for Christmas chez les parents before crossing the Atlantic for Christmas and New Year’s with the family. 2013 starts with us on the road in Austria before heading home to Nice at the end of January.

Until then mes amis, I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas and all the happiness the holiday season bring.